Now to and fro they runto man the walls. Father Latinus quits—the place of council and his large design,vexed and bewildered by the hour's distress.He blames his own heart that he did not askTrojan Aeneas for his daughter's Iord,and gain him for his kingdom's lasting friend.They dig them trenches at the gates, or liftburden of stakes and stones. The horn's harsh notesounds forth its murderous signal for the war;striplings and women, in a motley ring,defend the ramparts; the decisive hourlays tasks on all. Upon the citadela train of matrons, with the doleful Queen,toward Pallas' temple moves, and in their handare gifts and offerings. See, at their sidethe maid Lavinia, cause of all these tears,drops down her lovely eyes! The incense rollsin clouds above the altar; at the doorswith wailing voice the women make this prayer:“Tritonian virgin, arbitress of war!Break of thyself yon Phrygian robber's spear!Hurl him down dying in the dust! Spill forthhis evil blood beneath our lofty towers!”Fierce Turnus girds him, emulous to slay:a crimson coat of mail he wears, with scalesof burnished bronze; beneath his knees are boundthe golden greaves; upon his naked browno helm he wears; but to his thigh is bounda glittering sword. Down from the citadelruns he, a golden glory, in his heartboldly exulting, while impatient hopefore-counts his fallen foes. He seemed as when,from pinfold bursting, breaking his strong chain,th' untrammelled stallion ranges the wide field,or tries him to a herd of feeding mares,or to some cooling river-bank he knows,most fierce and mettlesome; the streaming maneo'er neck and shoulder flies.
Ilicet in muros tota discurritur urbe.Consilium ipse pater et magna incepta Latinusdeserit ac tristi turbatus tempore differtmultaque se incusat, qui non adceperit ultroDardanium Aenean generumque adsciverit urbi.Praefodiunt alii portas aut saxa sudesquesubvectant. Bello dat signum rauca cruentumbucina. Tum muros varia cinxere coronamatronae puerique: vocat labor ultimus omnis.Nec non ad templum summasque ad Palladis arcessubvehitur magna matrum regina catervadona ferens, iuxtaque comes Lavinia virgo,causa mali tanti, oculos deiecta decoros.Succedunt matres et templum ture vaporantet maestas alto fundunt de limine voces:“Armipotens, praeses belli, Tritonia virgo,”“frange manu telum Phrygii praedonis et ipsum”“pronum sterne solo portisque effunde sub altis.”Cingitur ipse furens certatim in proelia Turnus.Iamque adeo rutilum thoraca indutus aenishorrebat squamis surasque incluserat auro,tempora nudus adhuc, laterique adcinxerat ensemfulgebatque alta decurrens aureus arce,exsultatque animis et spe iam praecipit hostem:qualis ubi abruptis fugit praesaepia vinclistandem liber equus campoque potitus apertoaut ille in pastus armentaque tendit equarumaut adsuetus aquae perfundi flumine notoemicat adrectisque fremit cervicibus alteluxurians, luduntque iubae per colla, per armos.
Across his pathCamilla with her Volscian escort came,and at the city-gate the royal maiddown from her charger leaped; while all her bandat her example glided to the ground,their horses leaving. Thus the virgin spoke:“Turnus, if confidence beseem the brave,I have no fear; but of myself do vowto meet yon squadrons of Aeneadaealone, and front me to the gathered chargeof Tuscan cavalry. Let me alonethe war's first venture-prove. Take station, thou,here at the walls, this rampart to defend.”With fixed eyes on the terror-striking maid,Turnus replied, “O boast of Italy,O virgin bold! What praise, what gratitudecan words or deeds repay? But since thy soulso large of stature shows, I bid thee sharemy burden and my war. Our spies bring newsthat now Aeneas with pernicious mindsends light-armed horse before him, to alarmthe plains below, while through the wildernesshe climbs the steep hills, and approaches soour leaguered town. But I in sheltered grovea stratagem prepare, and bid my menin ambush at a mountain cross-road lie.Meet thou the charge of Tuscan cavalrywith all thy banners. For auxiliar strengthtake bold Messapus with his Latin troopand King Tiburtus' men: but the commandshall be thy task and care.” He spoke, and urgedwith like instruction for the coming frayMessapus and his captains; then advancedto meet the foe.
Obvia cui Volscorum acie comitante Camillaoccurrit portisque ab equo regina sub ipsisdesiluit, quam tota cohors imitata relictisad terram defluxit equis; tum talia fatur:“Turne, sui merito siqua est fiducia forti,”“audeo et Aeneadum promitto occurrere turmae”“solaque Tyrrhenos equites ire obvia contra.”“Me sine prima manu temptare pericula belli”“tu pedes ad muros subsiste et moenia serva.”Turnus ad haec, oculos horrenda in virgine fixus:“O decus Italiae virgo, quas dicere grates”“quasve referre parem? Sed nunc, est omnia quando”“iste animus supra, mecum partire laborem.”“Aeneas, ut fama fidem missique reportant”“exploratores, equitum levia improbus arma”“praemisit, quaterent campos; ipse ardua montis”“per deserta iugo superans adventat ad urbem.”“Furta paro belli convexo in tramite silvae,”“ut bivias armato obsidam milite fauces.”“Tu Tyrrhenum equitem conlatis excipe signis;”“tecum acer Messapus erit turmaeque Latinae”“Tiburtique manus, ducis et tu concipe curam.”Sic ait, et paribus Messapum in proelia dictishortatur sociosque duces et pergit in hostem.
There is a winding valefor armed deception and insidious warwell fashioned, and by interlacing leavesscreened darkly in; a small path thither leads,through strait defile-a passage boding ill.Above it, on a mountain's lofty brow,are points of outlook, level spaces fair,and many a safe, invisible retreatfrom whence on either hand to challenge war,or, standing on the ridges, to roll downhuge mountain boulders. Thither Turnus fared,and, ranging the familiar tract, chose outhis cunning ambush in the dangerous grove.
Est curvo anfractu valles, adcommoda fraudiarmorumque dolis, quam densis frondibus atrumurget utrimque latus, tenuis quo semita ducitangustaeque ferunt fauces aditusque maligni.Hanc super in speculis summoque in vertice montisplanities ignota iacet tutique receptus,seu dextra laevaque velis occurrere pugnae,sive instare iugis et grandia volvere saxa.Huc iuvenis nota fertur regione viarumarripuitque locum et silvis insedit iniquis.
But now in dwellings of the gods on high,Diana to fleet-footed Opis called,a virgin from her consecrated train,and thus in sorrow spoke: “O maiden mine!Camilla now to cruel conflict flies;with weapons like my own she girds her side,in vain, though dearest of all nymphs to me.Nor is it some new Iove that stirs to-daywith sudden sweetness in Diana's breast:for long ago, when from his kingdom driven,for insolent and envied power, her sireKing Metabus, from old Privernum's wallwas taking flight amidst opposing foes,he bore a little daughter in his armsto share his exile; and he called the child(Changing Casmilla, her queen-mother's name)Camilla. Bearing on his breast the babe,he fled to solitary upland groves.But hovering round him with keen lances, pressedthe Volscian soldiery. Across his path,lo, Amasenus with full-foaming waveo'erflowed its banks—so huge a rain had burstbut lately from the clouds. There would he fainswim over, but the love of that sweet baberestrained him, trembling for his burden dear.In his perplexed heart suddenly arosefirm resolve. It chanced the warrior borehuge spear in his brawny hand, strong shaftof knotted, seasoned oak; to this he lashedhis little daughter with a withe of barkpulled from a cork-tree, and with skilful bondsfast bound her to the spear; then, poising ithigh in his right hand, thus he called on Heaven:
Velocem interea superis in sedibus Opim,unam ex virginibus sociis sacraque caterva,compellabat et has tristis Latonia vocesore dabat: “Graditur bellum ad crudele Camilla,”“O virgo, et nostris nequiquam cingitur armis,”“cara mihi ante alias.” Neque enim novus iste Dianaevenit amor subitaque animum dulcedine movit.Pulsus ob invidiam regno viresque superbasPriverno antiqua Metabus cum excederet urbe,infantem fugiens media inter proelia bellisustulit exsilio comitem matrisque vocavitnomine Casmillae mutata parte Camillam.Ipse sinu prae se portans iuga longa petebatsolorum nemorum: tela undique saeva premebantet circumfuso volitabant milite Volsci.Ecce fugae medio summis Amasenus abundansspumabat ripis: tantus se nubibus imberruperat. Ille, innare parans, infantis amoretardatur caroque oneri timet. Omnia secumversanti subito vix haec sententia sedit.Telum immane manu valida quod forte gerebatbellator, solidum nodis et robore cocto,huic natam, libro et silvestri subere clausam,implicat atque habilem mediae circumligat hastae;quam dextra ingenti librans ita ad aethera fatur:
‘Latona's daughter, whose benignant graceprotects this grove, behold, her father nowgives thee this babe for handmaid! Lo, thy spearher infant fingers hold, as from her foesshe flies a suppliant to thee! Receive,O goddess, I implore, what now I castupon the perilous air.’—He spoke, and hurledwith lifted arm the whirling shaft. The wavesroared loud, as on the whistling javelinhapless Camilla crossed th' impetuous flood.But Metabus, his foes in hot pursuit,dared plunge him in mid-stream, and, triumphing,soon plucked from grass-grown river-bank the spear,the child upon it,—now to Trivia vowed,a virgin offering. Him nevermorecould cities hold, nor would his wild heart yieldits sylvan freedom, but his days were passedwith shepherds on the solitary hills.His daughter too in tangled woods he bred:a brood-mare from the milk of her fierce breastsuckled the child, and to its tender lips. Her udders moved; and when the infant feettheir first firm steps had taken, the small palmswere armed with a keen javelin; her sirea bow and quiver from her shoulder slung.Instead of golden combs and flowing pall,she wore, from her girl-forehead backward thrown,the whole skin of a tigress; with soft handsshe made her plaything of a whirling spear,or, swinging round her head the polished thongof her good sling, she fetched from distant skyStrymonian cranes or swans of spotless wing.From Tuscan towns proud matrons oft in vainsought her in marriage for their sons; but sheto Dian only turned her stainless heart,her virgin freedom and her huntress' armswith faithful passion serving. Would that nowthis Iove of war had ne'er seduced her mindthe Teucrians to provoke! So might she beone of our wood-nymphs still. But haste, I pray,for bitter is her now impending doom.Descend, dear nymph, from heaven, and explorethe country of the Latins, where the fightwith unpropitious omens now begins.These weapons take, and from this quiver drawa vengeful arrow, wherewith he who daresto wound her sacred body, though he bea Trojan or Italian, shall receivebloody and swift reward at my command.Then, in a cloud concealed, I will consignher corpse, ill-fated but inviolateunto the sepulchre, restoring sothe virgin to her native land.” Thus spakethe goddess; but her handmaid, gliding down,took her loud pathway on the moving winds,and mantled in dark storm her shape divine.
“Alma, tibi hanc, nemorum cultrix, Latonia virgo,”“ipse pater famulam voveo; tua prima per auras”“tela tenens supplex hostem fugit. Accipe, testor,”“diva tuam, quae nunc dubiis committitur auris.”Dixit et adducto contortum hastile lacertoimmittit: sonuere undae, rapidum super amneminfelix fugit in iaculo stridente Camilla.At Metabus, magna propius iam urgente caterva,dat sese fluvio atque hastam cum virgine victorgramineo donum Triviae de caespite vellit.Non illum tectis ullae, non moenibus urbesaccepere neque ipse manus feritate dedisset:pastorum et solis exegit montibus aevom.Hic natam in dumis interque horrentia lustraarmentalis equae mammis et lacte ferinonutribat, teneris immulgens ubera labris.Utque pedum primis infans vestigia plantisinstiterat, iaculo palmas armavit acutospiculaque ex umero parvae suspendit et arcum.Pro crinali auro, pro longae tegmine pallaetigridis exuviae per dorsum a vertice pendent.Tela manu iam tum tenera puerilia torsitet fundam tereti circum caput egit habenaStrymoniamque gruem aut album deiecit olorem.Multae illam frustra Tyrrhena per oppida matresoptavere nurum: sola contenta Dianaaeternum telorum et virginitatis amoremintemerata colit. “Vellem haud correpta fuisset”“militia tali, conata lacessere Teucros:”“cara mihi comitumque foret nunc una mearum.”“Verum age, quandoquidem fatis urgetur acerbis,”“abere, nympha, polo finisque invise Latinos,”“tristis ubi infausto committitur omine pugna.”“Haec cape et ultricem pharetra deprome sagittam:”“hac quicumque sacrum violarit volnere corpus,”“Tros Italusque, mihi pariter det sanguine poenas.”“Post ego nube cava miserandae corpus et arma”“inspoliata feram tumulo patriaeque reponam.”Dixit; at illa levis caeli delapsa per aurasinsonuit, nigro circumdata turbine corpus.
Meanwhile the Teucrian legions to the walldraw near, with Tuscan lords and cavalryin numbered troops arrayed. Loud-footed steedsprance o'er the field, to manage of the reinrebellious, but turned deftly here or there.The iron harvest of keen spears spreads far,and all the plain burns bright with lifted steel.Messapus and swift Latin cavalry,Coras his brother, and th' attending trainof the fair maid Camilla, form their linesin the opposing field. Their poised right handspoint the long lances forward, and light shaftsare brandished in the air; the warrior hostson steeds of fire come kindling as they ride.One instant, at a spear-throw's space, each lineits motion stays; then with one sudden crythey rush forth, spurring on each frenzied steed.From-every side the multitudinous spearspour down like snowflakes, mantling heaven in shade.Now with contending spears and straining thews,Tyrrhenus, and Aconteus, champion bold,ride forward; with the onset terribleloudly their armor rings; their chargers twaincrash breast to breast, and like a thunderboltAconteus drops, or like a ponderous stonehurled from a catapult; full length he falls,surrend'ring to the winds his fleeting soul.
At manus interea muris Troiana propinquatEtruscique duces equitumque exercitus omnis,compositi numero in turmas. Fremit aequore totoinsultans sonipes et pressis pugnat habenishuc conversus et huc; tum late ferreus hastishorret ager campique armis sublimibus ardent.Nec non Messapus contra celeresque Latiniet cum fratre Coras et virginis ala Camillaeadversi campo apparent hastasque reductisprotendunt longe dextris et spicula vibrant,adventusque virum fremitusque ardescit equorum.Iamque intra iactum teli progressus uterquesubstiterat: subito erumpunt clamore furentisqueexhortantur equos; fundunt simul undique telacrebra nivis ritu caelumque obtexitur umbra.Continuo adversis Tyrrhenus et acer Aconteusconixi incurrunt hastis primique ruinadant sonitum ingenti perfractaque quadrupedantumpectora pectoribus rumpunt: excussus Aconteusfulminis in morem aut tormento ponderis actipraecipitat longe et vitam dispergit in auras.
Now all is panic: holding their light shieldsbehind their backs, the Latin horse wheel round,retreating to the wall, the Trojan foein close pursuit. Asilas, chieftain proud,led on th' assault. Hard by the city gatesthe Latins wheeled once more and pressed the reinstrong on the yielding neck; the charging foetook flight and hurried far with loose-flung rein.'T was like the shock and onset of the seathat landward hurls the alternating floodand hides high cliffs in foam,—the tawny sandsupflinging as it rolls; then, suddenlywhirled backward on the reingulfing waves,it quits the ledges, and with ebbing flowfar from the shore retires. The Tuscans twicedrive back the flying Rutules to the town;and twice repulsed, with shields to rearward thrown,glare back at the pursuer; but conjoinedin the third battle-charge, both armies mergeconfusedly together in grim fightof man to man; then follow dying groans,armor blood-bathed and corpses, and strong steedsinextricably with their masters slain,so fierce the fray. Orsilochus—afraidto front the warrior's arms—launched forth a spearat Remulus' horse, and left the fatal steelclinging below its ear; the charger plungedmadly, and tossed its trembling hoofs in air,sustaining not the wound; the rider fell,flung headlong to the ground. Catillus slewIollas; and then struck Herminius down,great-bodied and great-hearted, who could wielda monster weapon, and whose yellow hairfrom naked head to naked shoulder flowed.By wounds unterrified he dared opposehis huge bulk to the foe: the quivering spearpierced to his broad back, and with throes of painbowed the man double and clean clove him through.Wide o'er the field th' ensanguined horror flowed,where fatal swords were crossed and cut their waythrough many a wound to famous death and fair.
Extemplo turbatae acies, versique Latinireiciunt parmas et equos ad moenia vertunt.Troes agunt, princeps turmas inducit Asilas.Iamque propinquabant portis, rursusque Latiniclamorem tollunt et mollia colla reflectunt:hi fugiunt penitusque datis referuntur habenis.Qualis ubi alterno procurrens gurgite pontusnunc ruit ad terram scopulusque superiacit undaspumeus extremamque sinu perfundit arenam,nunc rapidus retro atque aestu revoluta resorbenssaxa fugit litusque vado labente relinquit:bis Tusci Rutulos egere ad moenia versos,bis reiecti armis respectant terga tegentes.Tertia sed postquam congressi in proelia totasimplicuere inter se acies legitque virum vir:tum vero et gemitus morientum et sanguine in altoarmaque corporaque et permixti caede virorumsemianimes volvuntur equi, pugna aspera surgit.Orsilochus Remuli, quando ipsum horrebat adire,hastam intorsit equo ferrumque sub aure reliquit.Quo sonipes ictu furit arduus altaque iactatvulneris impatiens arrecto pectore crura:volvitur ille excussus humi. Catillus Iollaningentemque animis, ingentem corpore et armisdeicit Herminium, nudo cui vertice fulvacaesaries nudique umeri, nec vulnera terrent:tantus in arma patet. Latos huic hasta per armosacta tremit duplicatque virum transfixa dolore.Funditur ater ubique cruor; dant funera ferrocertantes pulchramque petunt per vulnera mortem.
Swift through the midmost slaughter proudly stridesthe quiver-girt Camilla, with one breastthrust naked to the fight, like Amazon.Oft from her hand her pliant shafts she rains,or whirls with indefatigable arma doughty battle-axe; her shoulder bearsDiana's sounding arms and golden bow.Sometimes retreating and to flight compelled,the maiden with a rearward-pointing bowshoots arrows as she flies. Around her moveher chosen peers, Larina, virgin brave,Tarpeia, brandishing an axe of bronze,and Tulla, virgins out of Italywhom the divine Camilla chose to beher glory, each a faithful servitressin days of peace or war. The maids of Thraceride thus along Thermodon's frozen flood,and fight with blazoned Amazonian armsaround Hippolyta; or when returnsPenthesilea in triumphal car'mid acclamations shrill, and all her hostof women clash in air the moon-shaped shield.
At medias inter caedes exsultat Amazon,unum exserta latus pugnae, pharetrata Camilla,et nunc lenta manu spargens hastilia denset,nunc validam dextra rapit indefessa bipennem;aureus ex umero sonat arcus et arma Dianae.Illa etiam in tergum, siquando pulsa recessit,spicula converso fugientia dirigit arcu.At circum lectae comites, Larinaque virgoTullaque et aeratam quatiens Tarpeia securem,Italides, quas ipsa decus sibi dia Camilladelegit pacisque bonas bellique ministras:quales Threiciae cum flumina Thermodontispulsant et pictis bellantur Amazones armisseu circum Hippolyten, seu cum se Martia curruPenthesilea refert, magnoque ululante tumultufeminea exsultant lunatis agmina peltis.
What warrior first, whom last, did thy strong spear,fierce virgin, earthward fling? Or what thy taleof prostrate foes laid gasping on the ground?Eunaeus first, the child of Clytius' Ioins,whose bared breast, as he faced his foe, she piercedwith fir-tree javelin; from his lips outpouredthe blood-stream as he fell; and as he bitthe gory dust, he clutched his mortal wound.Then Liris, and upon him Pagasusshe slew: the one clung closer to the reinsof his stabbed horse, and rolled off on the ground;the other, flying to his fallen friend,reached out a helpless hand; so both of thesefell on swift death together. Next in lineshe smote Amastrus, son of Hippotas;then, swift-pursuing, pierced with far-flung spearTereus, Harpalycus, Demophoon,and Chromis; every shaft the virgin threwlaid low its Phrygian warrior. From afarrode Ornytus on his Apulian steed,bearing a hunter's uncouth arms; for cloakhe wore upon his shoulders broad a hidefrom some wild bull stripped off; his helmet wasa wolf's great, gaping mouth, with either jawfull of white teeth; the weapon in his hand,a farmer's pole. He strode into the throng,head taller than them all. But him she seizedand clove him through (his panic-stricken troopgave her advantage), and with wrathful heartshe taunted thus the fallen: “Didst thou deemthis was a merry hunting in the woodin chase of game? Behold, thy fatal daybefalls thee at a woman's hand, and thusthy boasting answers. No small glory thouunto the ghosts of thy dead sires wilt tell,that 't was Camilla's javelin struck thee down.”
Quem telo primum, quem postremum, aspera virgo,deicis? Aut quot humi morientia corpora fundis?Eunaeum Clitio primum patre, cuius apertumadversi longa transverberat abiete pectus:sanguinis ille vomens rivos cadit atque cruentammandit humum moriensque suo se in volnere versat.Tum Lirim Pagasumque super; quorum alter habenassuffosso revolutus equo dum colligit, alterdum subit ac dextram labenti tendit inermem,praecipites pariterque ruunt. His addit AmastrumHippotaden, sequiturque incumbens eminus hastaTereaque Harpalycumque et Demophoonta Chrominque;quotque emissa manu contorsit spicula virgo,tot Phrygii cecidere viri. Procul Ornytus armisignotis et equo venator Iapyge fertur,cui pellis latos umeros erepta iuvencopugnatori operit, caput ingens oris hiatuset malae texere lupi cum dentibus albis,agrestisque manus armat sparus; ipse catervisvertitur in mediis et toto vertice supra est.Hunc illa exceptum, neque enim labor agmine verso,traicit et super haec inimico pectore fatur:“Silvis te, Tyrrhene, feras agitare putasti?”“Advenit qui vestra dies muliebribus armis”“verba redarguerit. Nomen tamen haud leve patrum”“manibus hoc referes, telo cecidisse Camillae.”
The turn of Butes and Orsilochuscame next, who were the Trojans, hugest twain:yet Butes with her javelin-point she clovefrom rearward, 'twixt the hauberk and the helm,just where the horseman's neck showed white, and wherefrom shoulder leftward slung the light-weight shield.From swift Orsilochus she feigned to fly,through a wide circle sweeping, craftilytaking the inside track, pursuing soher own pursuer; then she raised herselfto her full height, and through the warrior's helmdrove to his very skull with doubling blowsof her strong battle-axe,—while he imploredher mercy with loud prayers: his cloven brainspilt o'er his face. Next in her pathway came—but shrank in startled fear—the warrior sonof Aunus, haunter of the Apennine,not least of the Ligurians ere his doomcut short a life of lies. He, knowing wellno flight could save him from the shock of armsnor turn the royal maid's attack, beganwith words of cunning and insidious guile:“What glory is it if a girl be bold,on sturdy steed depending? Fly me not!But, venturing with me on this equal ground,gird thee to fight on foot. Soon shalt thou seewhich one of us by windy boast achievesa false renown.” He spoke; but she, to pangsof keenest fury stung, gave o'er her steedin charge of a companion, and opposedher foe at equal vantage, falchion drawn,on foot, and, though her shield no blazon bore,of fear incapable. But the warrior fled,thinking his trick victorious, and rode offfull speed, with reins reversed,—his iron heelgoading his charger's flight. Camilla cried:“Ligurian cheat! In vain thy boastful heartpuffs thee so large; in vain thou hast essayedthy father's slippery ways; nor shall thy trickbring thee to guileful Aunus safely home.”Herewith on winged feet that virgin boldflew past the war-horse, seized the streaming rein,and, fronting him, took vengeance on her foein bloody strokes: with not less ease a hawk,dark bird of omen, from his mountain cragpursues on pinions strong a soaring doveto distant cloud, and, clutching with hooked claws,holds tight and rips,—while through celestial airthe torn, ensanguined plumage floats along.
Protinus Orsilochum et Buten, duo maxima Teucrumcorpora, sed Buten aversum cuspide fixitloricam galeamque inter, qua colla sedentislucent et laevo dependet parma lacerto,Orsilochum fugiens magnumque agitata per orbemeludit gyro interior sequiturque sequentem,tum validam perque arma viro perque ossa securimaltior exsurgens oranti et multa precanticongeminat: vulnus calido rigat ora cerebro.Incidit huic subitoque aspectu territus haesitAppenninicolae bellator filius Auni,haud Ligurum extremus, dum fallere fata sinebant.Isque ubi se nullo iam cursu evadere pugnaeposse neque instantem reginam avertere cernit,consilio versare dolos ingressus et astuincipit haec: “Quid tam egregium, si femina forti”“fidis equo? Dimitte fugam et te comminus aequo”“mecum crede solo pugnaeque adcinge pedestri:”“iam nosces, ventosa ferat cui gloria fraudem.”Dixit, at illa furens acrique adcensa doloretradit equum comiti paribusque resistit in armis,ense pedes nudo puraque interrita parma.At iuvenis, vicisse dolo ratus, avolat ipse,haud mora, conversisque fugax aufertur habenisquadrupedemque citum ferrata calce fatigat.“Vane Ligus frustraque animis elate superbis,”“nequiquam patrias temptasti lubricus artis,”“nec fraus te incolumem fallaci perferet Auno,”haec fatur virgo et pernicibus ignea plantistransit equum cursu frenisque adversa prehensiscongreditur poenasque inimico ex sanguine sumit:quam facile accipiter saxo sacer ales ab altoconsequitur pennis sublimem in nube columbamcomprensamque tenet pedibusque eviscerat uncis;tum cruor et vulsae labuntur ab aethere plumae.
But now not blindly from Olympian thronethe Sire of gods and men observant sawhow sped the day. Then to the conflict direthe god thrust Tarchon forth, the Tyrrhene King,goading the warrior's rage. So Tarchon rodethrough slaughter wide and legions in retreat,and roused the ranks with many a wrathful cry:he called each man by name, and toward the foedrove back the routed lines. “What terrors now,Tuscan cowards, dead to noble rage,have seized ye? or what laggard sloth and vileunmans your hearts, that now a woman's armpursues ye and this scattered host confounds?Why dressed in steel, or to what purpose wearyour futile swords? Not slackly do ye jointhe ranks of Venus in a midnight war;or when fantastic pipes of Bacchus callyour dancing feet, right venturesome ye flyto banquets and the flowing wine—what zeal,what ardor then! Or if your flattering priestbegins the revel, and to Iofty grovesfat flesh of victims bids ye haste away!”So saying, his steed he spurred, and scorning deathdashed into the mid-fray, where, frenzy-driven,he sought out Venulus, and, grappling himwith one hand, from the saddle snatched his foe,and, clasping strongly to his giant breast,exultant bore away. The shouting roseto heaven, and all the Latins gazed his way,as o'er the plain the fiery Tarchon flewbearing the full-armed man; then, breaking offthe point of his own spear, he pried a waythrough the seam'd armor for the mortal wound;the other, struggling, thrust back from his throatthe griping hand, full force to force opposing.As when a golden eagle high in airknits to a victim—snake his clinging feetand deeply-thrusting claws; but, coiling back,the wounded serpent roughens his stiff scalesand stretches high his hissing head; whereatthe eagle with hooked beak the more doth rendher writhing foe, and with swift stroke of winglashes the air: so Tarchon, from the ranksof Tibur's sons, triumphant snatched his prey.The Tuscans rallied now, well pleased to viewtheir king's example and successful war.Then Arruns, marked for doom, made circling linearound Camilla's path, his crafty spearseeking its lucky chance. Where'er the maidsped furious to the battle, Arruns therein silence dogged her footsteps and pursued;or where triumphant from her fallen foesshe backward drew, the warrior stealthilyturned his swift reins that way: from every sidehe circled her, and scanned his vantage hereor vantage there, his skilful javelinstubbornly shaking.
At non haec nullis hominum sator atque deorumobservans oculis summo sedet altus Olympo:Tyrrhenum genitor Tarchonem in proelia saevasuscitat et stimulis haud mollibus incitat iras.Ergo inter caedes cedentiaque agmina Tarchonfertur equo variisque instigat vocibus alas,nomine quemque vocans, reficitque in proelia pulsos.“Quis metus, O numquam dolituri, O semper inertes”“Tyrrheni, quae tanta animis ignavia venit?”“Femina palantis agit atque haec agmina vertit!”“Quo ferrum quidve haec gerimus tela inrita dextris?”“At non in Venerem segnes nocturnaque bella”“aut ubi curva choros indixit tibia Bacchi,”“exspectate dapes et plenae pocula mensae,”“hic amor, hoc studium, dum sacra secundus haruspex”“nuntiet ac lucos vocet hostia pinguis in altos!”Haec effatus equum in medios, moriturus et ipse,concitat et Venulo adversum se turbidus infertdereptumque ab equo dextra complectitur hostemet gremium ante suum multa vi concitus aufert.Tollitur in caelum clamor, cunctique Latiniconvertere oculos. Volat igneus aequore Tarchonarma virumque ferens; tum summa ipsius ab hastadefringit ferrum et partis rimatur apertas,qua vulnus letale ferat; contra ille repugnanssustinet a iugulo dextram et vim viribus exit.Utque volans alte raptum cum fulva draconemfert aquila implicuitque pedes atque unguibus haesit,saucius at serpens sinuosa volumina versatadrectisque horret squamis et sibilat ore,arduus insurgens; illa haud minus urget obuncoluctantem rostro, simul aethera verberat alis:haud aliter praedam Tiburtum ex agmine Tarchonportat ovans. Ducis exemplum eventumque secutiMaeonidae incurrunt. Tum fatis debitus Arrunsvelocem iaculo et multa prior arte Camillamcircuit et quae sit fortuna facillima, temptat.Qua se cumque furens medio tulit agmine virgo,hac Arruns subit et tacitus vestigia lustrat;qua victrix redit illa pedemque ex hoste reportat,hac iuvenis furtim celeris detorquet habenas.Hos aditus iamque hos aditus omnemque pererratundique circuitum et certam quatit improbus hastam.
But it soon befellthat Chloreus, once a priest of Cybele,shone forth in far-resplendent Phrygian arms,and urged a foaming steed, which wore a robeo'erwrought with feathery scales of bronze and gold;while he, in purples of fine foreign stain,bore light Gortynian shafts and Lycian bow;his bow was gold; a golden casque he woreupon his priestly brow; the saffron cloak,all folds of rustling cambric, was enclaspedin glittering gold; his skirts and tunics gaywere broidered, and the oriental garbswathed his whole leg. Him when the maiden spied,(Perchance she fain on temple walls would hangthe Trojan prize, or in such captured goldher own fair shape array), she gave mad chase,and reckless through the ranks her prey pursued,desiring, woman-like, the splendid spoil.Then from his ambush Arruns seized at lastthe fatal moment and let speed his shaft,thus uttering his vow to heavenly powers:“Chief of the gods, Apollo, who dost guardSoracte's hallowed steep, whom we reverefirst of thy worshippers, for thee is fedthe heap of burning pine; for thee we passthrough the mid-blaze in sacred zeal secure,and deep in glowing embers plant our feet.O Sire Omnipotent, may this my spearour foul disgrace put by. I do not askfor plunder, spoils, or trophies in my name,when yonder virgin falls; let honor's crownbe mine for other deeds. But if my strokethat curse and plague destroy, may I unpraisedsafe to the cities of my sires return.”
Forte sacer Cybelo Chloreus olimque sacerdosinsignis longe Phrygiis fulgebat in armisspumantemque agitabat equum, quem pellis aënisin plumam squamis auro conserta tegebat.Ipse, peregrina ferrugine clarus et ostro,spicula torquebat Lycio Gortynia cornu;aureus ex umeris erat arcus et aurea vaticassida; tum croceam chlamydemque sinusque crepantiscarbaseos fulvo in nodum collegerat auropictus acu tunicas et barbara tegmina crurum.Hunc virgo, sive ut templis praefigeret armaTroïa, captivo sive ut se ferret in aurovenatrix, unum ex omni certamine pugnaecaeca sequebatur totumque incauta per agmenfemineo praedae et spoliorum ardebat amore,telum ex insidiis cum tandem tempore captoconcitat et superos Arruns sic voce precatur:“Summe deum, sancti custos Soractis Apollo,”“quem primi colimus, cui pineus ardor acervo”“pascitur et medium freti pietate per ignem”“cultores multa premimus vestigia pruna,”“da, pater, hoc nostris aboleri dedecus armis,”“omnipotens. Non exuvias pulsaeve tropaeum”“virginis aut spolia ulla peto (mihi cetera laudem”“facta ferent): haec dira meo dum vulnere pestis”“pulsa cadat, patrias remeabo inglorius urbes.”
Apollo heard and granted half the prayer,but half upon the passing breeze he threw:granting his votary he should confoundCamilla by swift death; but 't was deniedthe mountain-fatherland once more to see,or safe return,—that prayer th' impetuous windsswept stormfully away. Soon as the spearwhizzed from his hand, straight-speeding on the air,the Volscians all turned eager thought and eyestoward their Queen. She only did not heedthat windy roar, nor weapon dropped from heaven,till in her bare, protruded breast the speardrank, deeply driven, of her virgin blood.Her terror-struck companians swiftly throngaround her, and uplift their sinking Queen.But Arruns, panic-stricken more than all,makes off, half terror and half joy, nor dareshazard his lance again, nor dares opposea virgin's arms. As creeps back to the hillsin pathless covert ere his foes pursue,from shepherd slain or mighty bull laid low,some wolf, who, now of his bold trespass ware,curls close against his paunch a quivering tailand to the forest tries: so Arruns speedsfrom sight of men in terror, glad to fly,and hides him in the crowd. But his keen speardying Camilla from her bosom drew,though the fixed barb of deeply-wounding steelclung to the rib. She sank to earth undone,her cold eyes closed in death, and from her cheeksthe roses fled. With failing breath she calledon Acca—who of all her maiden peerswas chiefly dear and shared her heart's whole pain—and thus she spoke: “O Acca, sister mine,I have been strong till now. The cruel woundconsumes me, and my world is growing dark.Haste thee to Turnus! Tell my dying words!'T is he must bear the battle and hold backthe Trojan from our city wall. Farewell!”So saying, her fingers from the bridle-reinunclasped, and helpless to the earth she fell;then, colder grown, she loosed her more and moreout of the body's coil; she gave to deathher neck, her drooping head, and ceased to heedher war-array. So fled her spirit forthwith wrath and moaning to the world below.Then clamor infinite uprose and smotethe golden stars, as round Camilla slainthe battle newly raged. To swifter chargethe gathered Trojans ran, with Tuscan lordsand King Evander's troops of Arcady.
Audiit et voti Phoebus succedere partemmente dedit, partem volucris dispersit in auras:sterneret ut subita turbatam morte Camillam,adnuit oranti; reducem ut patria alta videret,non dedit, inque Notos vocem vertere procellae.Ergo ut missa manu sonitum dedit hasta per auras,convertere animos acris oculosque tulerecuncti ad reginam Volsci. Nihil ipsa nec auraenec sonitus memor aut venientis ab aethere teli,hasta sub exsertam donec perlata papillamhaesit virgineumque alte bibit acta cruorem.Concurrunt trepidae comites dominamque ruentemsuscipiunt. Fugit ante omnis exterritus Arruns,laetitia mixtoque metu, nec iam amplius hastaecredere nec telis occurrere virginis audet.Ac velut ille, prius quam tela inimica sequantur,continuo in montis sese avius abdidit altosocciso pastore lupus magnove iuvenco,conscius audacis facti, caudamque remulcenssubiecit pavitantem utero silvasque petivit:haud secus ex oculis se turbidus abstulit Arrunscontentusque fuga mediis se immiscuit armis.Illa manu moriens telum trahit, ossa sed interferreus ad costas alto stat vulnere mucro:labitur exsanguis, labuntur frigida letolumina, purpureus quondam color ora reliquit.Tum sic exspirans Accam ex aequalibus unamadloquitur fidam ante alias, quae sola Camillae,quicum partiri curas; atque haec ita fatur:“Hactenus, Acca soror, potui: nunc vulnus acerbum”“conficit, et tenebris nigrescunt omnia circum.”“Effuge et haec Turno mandata novissima perfer:”“succedat pugnae Troianosque arceat urbe.”“Iamque vale.” Simul his dictis linquebat habenas,ad terram non sponte fluens. Tum frigida totopaulatim exsolvit se corpore lentaque collaet captum leto posuit caput, arma relinquunt,vitaque cum gemitu fugit indignata sub umbras.Tum vero immensus surgens ferit aurea clamorsidera: deiecta crudescit pugna Camilla,incurrunt densi simul omnis copia TeucrumTyrrhenique duces Evandrique Arcades alae.
Fair Opis, keeping guard for Triviain patient sentry on a lofty hill, beheldunterrified the conflict's rage. Yet when,amid the frenzied shouts of soldiery,she saw from far Camilla pay the doomof piteous death, with deep-drawn voice of sightshe thus complained: “O virgin, woe is me!Too much, too much, this agony of thine,to expiate that thou didst lift thy spearfor wounding Troy. It was no shield in war,nor any vantage to have kept thy vowto chaste Diana in the thorny wild.Our maiden arrows at thy shoulder slungavailed thee not! Yet will our Queen divinenot leave unhonored this thy dying day,nor shall thy people let thy death remaina thing forgot, nor thy bright name appeara glory unavenged. Whoe'er he bethat marred thy body with the mortal woundshall die as he deserves.” Beneath that hillan earth-built mound uprose, the tombof King Dercennus, a Laurentine old,by sombre ilex shaded: thither hiedthe fair nymph at full speed, and from the moundlooked round for Arruns. When his shape she sawin glittering armor vainly insolent,“Whither so fast?” she cried. “This way, thy path!This fatal way approach, and here receivethy reward for Camilla! Thou shalt fall,vile though thou art, by Dian's shaft divine.”She said; and one swift-coursing arrow tookfrom golden quiver, like a maid of Thrace,and stretched it on her bow with hostile aim,withdrawing far, till both the tips of horntogether bent, and, both hands poising well,the left outreached to touch the barb of steel,the right to her soft breast the bowstring drew:the hissing of the shaft, the sounding air,Arruns one moment heard, as to his fleshthe iron point clung fast. But his last groanhis comrades heeded not, and let him lie,scorned and forgotten, on the dusty field,while Opis soared to bright Olympian air.
At Triviae custos iamdudum in montibus Opisalta sedet summis spectatque interrita pugnas.Utque procul medio iuvenum in clamore furentumprospexit tristi multatam morte Camillam,ingemuitque deditque has imo pectore voces:“Heu nimium, virgo, nimium crudele luisti”“supplicium, Teucros conata lacessere bello!”“Nec tibi desertae in dumis coluisse Dianam”“profuit aut nostras umero gessisse sagittas.”“Non tamen indecorem tua te regina reliquit”“extrema iam in morte, neque hoc sine nomine letum”“per gentis erit aut famam patieris inultae.”“Nam quicumque tuum violavit vulnere corpus,”“morte luet merita.” Fuit ingens monte sub altoregis Dercenni terreno ex aggere bustumantiqui Laurentis opacaque ilice tectum:hic dea se primum rapido pulcherrima nisusistit et Arruntem tumulo speculatur ab alto.Ut vidit laetantem animis ac vana tumentem,“Cur,” inquit, “diversus abis? Huc dirige gressum,”“huc periture veni, capias ut digna Camillae”“praemia. Tune etiam telis moriere Dianae?”dixit, et aurata volucrem Threissa sagittamdeprompsit pharetra cornuque infensa tetenditet duxit longe, donec curvata coirentinter se capita et manibus iam tangeret aequis,laeva aciem ferri, dextra nervoque papillam.Extemplo teli stridorem aurasque sonantisaudiit una Arruns, haesitque in corpore ferrum.Illum exspirantem socii atque extrema gementemobliti ignoto camporum in pulvere linquunt,Opis ad aetherium pennis aufertur Olympum.
Camilla's light-armed troop, its virgin chiefnow fallen, were the first to fly; in flightthe panic-stricken Rutule host is seenand Acer bold; his captains in dismaywith shattered legions from the peril fly,and goad their horses to the city wall.Not one sustains the Trojan charge, or standsin arms against the swift approach of death.Their bows unstrung from drooping shoulder fall,and clatter of hoof-beats shakes the crumbling ground.On to the city in a blinding cloudthe dust uprolls. From watch-towers Iooking forth,the women smite their breasts and raise to heavenshrill shouts of fear. Those fliers who first passedthe open gates were followed by the foe,routed and overwhelmed. They could not flya miserable death, but were struck downin their own ancient city, or expiredbefore the peaceful shrines of hearth and home.Then some one barred the gates. They dared not nowgive their own people entrance, and were deafto all entreaty. Woeful deaths ensued,both of the armed defenders of the gate,and of the foe in arms. The desperate band,barred from the city in the face and eyesof their own weeping parents, either droppedwith headlong and inevitable plungeinto the moat below; or, frantic, blind,battered with beams against the stubborn doorand columns strong. Above in conflict wildeven the women (who for faithful loveof home and country schooled them to be braveCamilla's way) rained weapons from the walls,and used oak-staves and truncheons shaped in flame,as if, well-armed in steel, each bosom boldwould fain in such defence be first to die.
Prima fugit domina amissa levis ala Camillae;turbati fugiunt Rutuli, fugit acer Atinasdisiectique duces desolatique maniplituta petunt et equis aversi ad moenia tendunt.Nec quisquam instantis Teucros letumque ferentissustentare valet telis aut sistere contra,sed laxos referunt umeris languentibus arcus,quadrupedumque putrem cursu quatit ungula campum.Volvitur ad muros caligine turbidus atrapulvis, et e speculis percussae pectora matresfemineum clamorem ad caeli sidera tollunt.Qui cursu portas primi inrupere patentis,hos inimica super mixto premit agmine turba;nec miseram effugiunt mortem, sed limine in ipso,moenibus in patriis atque inter tuta domorumconfixi exspirant animas. Pars claudere portas:nec sociis aperire viam nec moenibus audentaccipere orantis, oriturque miserrima caedesdefendentum armis aditus inque arma ruentum.Exclusi ante oculos lacrumantumque ora parentumpars in praecipitis fossas urgente ruinavolvitur, immissis pars caeca et concita frenisarietat in portas et duros obice postis.Ipsae de muris summo certamine matres,monstrat amor verus patriae, ut videre Camillam,tela manu trepidae iaciunt ac robore durostipitibus ferrum sudibusque imitantur obustispraecipites primaeque mori pro moenibus ardent.
Meanwhile th' unpitying messenger had flownto Turnus in the wood; the warrior heardfrom Acca of the wide confusion spread,the Volscian troop destroyed, Camilla slain,the furious foe increasing, and, with Marsto help him, grasping all, till in that hourfar as the city-gates the panic reigned.Then he in desperate rage (Jove's cruel powerdecreed it) from the ambushed hills withdrewand pathless wild. He scarce had passed beyondto the bare plain, when forth Aeneas marchedalong the wide ravine, climbed up the ridge,and from the dark, deceiving grove stood clear.Then swiftly each with following ranks of warmoved to the city-wall, nor wide the spacethat measured 'twixt the twain. Aeneas sawthe plain with dust o'erclouded, and the linesof the Laurentian host extending far;Turnus, as clearly, saw the war arrayof dread Aeneas, and his ear perceivedloud tramp of mail-clad men and snorting steeds.Soon had they sped to dreadful shock of arms,hazard of war to try; but Phoebus now,glowing rose-red, had dipped his wearied wheeldeep in Iberian seas, and brought back nightabove the fading day. So near the townboth pitch their camps and make their ramparts strong.
Interea Turnum in silvis saevissimus impletnuntius, et iuveni ingentem fert Acca tumultum:deletas Volscorum acies, cecidisse Camillam,ingruere infensos hostis et Marte secundoomnia corripuisse, metum iam ad moenia ferri.Ille furens, et saeva Iovis sic numina pellunt,deserit obsessos collis, nemora aspera linquit.Vix e conspectu exierat campumque tenebat,cum pater Aeneas saltus ingressus apertosexsuperatque iugum silvaque evadit opaca.Sic ambo ad muros rapidi totoque ferunturagmine nec longis inter se passibus absunt;ac simul Aeneas fumantis pulvere camposprospexit longe Laurentiaque agmina vidit,et saevum Aenean adgnovit Turnus in armisadventumque pedum flatusque audivit equorum.Continuoque ineant pugnas et proelia temptent,ni roseus fessos iam gurgite Phoebus Hiberotinguat equos noctemque die labente reducat:considunt castris ante urbem et moenia vallant.